Not nought in Nxai.
07 October 2021 | Nxai Pans National Park, Botswana
Maggie
From my journal:
" The drive from the entrance to Nxai Pan National Park up to the watering hole took us back to the roads of Moremi, Khwai and Savuti, with much soft sand, corrugations, and gear changing happening! We didn't see much and wondered if the discomfort was worth it.
However, when we finally arrived there was already much happening:
A huge old bull elephant was standing on the banks of the pool, eyes shut, apparently napping, the only things moving were his tail swishing away the flies, and his huge "member" that dropped down to the ground at times, much to our fascination!!
Zebras stayed safely off in the distance.
Impala, kudu and springbok took turns coming in for a drink.
We saw our first two secretary birds that are large and beautifully plumed.
Ostriches walked about the perimeter.
And we watched a black hair jackal desperately try to catch one of the many guinea fowl here for a drink of water too!
While Nev was out getting himself a peanut butter sandwich for breakfast, the arrival of 5 more ellies sent him scurrying back inside the cab, and we spent another two hours watching them as they drank their full, splashed themselves with water, and had a lovely wade-about in the pond.
These younger ellies seemed to energize the old guy, at least enough to get him into the water, though he didn't do much other than wrap his trunk about his tusks and stand again, eyes mostly shut...
we wondered if perhaps he was preparing himself to leave this world?
It was hard for us to leave his world but Baines Baobab was calling...
As we left I could've sworn our jackal finally got himself a guinea...
at least hope he did!"